Abuja, Nigeria – The Federal Government has started paying November 2024 salaries to civil servants after weeks of delay. The delay, caused by the ongoing migration from the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS) to the Government Integrated Financial Management Information System (GIFMIS), disrupted operations in various Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).
The situation left MDAs temporarily unable to access funds for programs and projects, causing widespread distress among civil servants grappling with economic challenges.
The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Polytechnics (SSANIP) expressed concerns over the delay, describing it as a major strain on workers. In a letter to members, SSANIP President Philip Ogunsipe stressed the importance of timely salary payments amid the country’s tough economic conditions.
“Timely salary payments are not just essential but critical for the sustenance of our members and their families. This unwarranted delay has imposed severe financial hardships, further exacerbating the already difficult living conditions faced by Nigerian workers,” Ogunsipe wrote.
The union linked the delay to the transition between payroll systems in Nigeria’s tertiary institutions, particularly from IPPIS to GIFMIS.
Confirming the payment, a senior official in the Federal Ministry of Defence said, “The salary came in this morning after quite a number of days. Some of us were contemplating staying home because the delay had become too much.”
A teacher at a government school also confirmed receiving her pay. “I can confirm that my salary came in on Monday morning around 11 am. It took restraint on my part not to go borrow money, as we’re already in the second week of December. The government should always consider its workers in times like this,” she said.
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